World's Fastest Woman Wins In Solitary Style

Torrence's 100-meter Win Carries Weight Of '92 Charges

GOTEBORG, Sweden — When Gwen Torrence finally won the race she wanted most, the one that gives her the right to be called the world's fastest woman, her acclaim was far from universal.

Indifference would sum up the immediate reaction to Torrence's victory in the 100 meters at the world track and field championships with a time of 10.85 seconds Monday night.

Not one of the seven women Torrence outran start-to-finish offered much in the way of congratulations to the outspoken sprinter from Atlanta after the race. The best Torrence got for her first 100-meter win in a major international meet was a light tap on the shoulder from runner-up Merlene Ottey of Jamaica.

Such apparent disdain for a winner is unusual in the sport. That was made plain Monday by the bear hugs Great Britain's Jonathan Edwards received from his rivals after Edwards broke his own world record on each of his first two attempts in the triple jump.

Edwards also surpassed two notable barriers, one metric, the other imperial. He opened with history's first legal (non wind-aided) jump beyond 18 meters, then followed it with the first past 60 feet. The distances were 59 feet, 7 inches and 60 feet, 1/4 inch, which meant Edwards had improved the world record (59-0) he set two weeks ago by more than a foot.

Brian Wellman of Bermuda, the man most affected by the records because he was next in the jumping order, still took the time to embrace Edwards as photographers swarmed the triple jump area. Wellman would finish second with a wind-aided 57-9 3/4.

"I told Brian I was sorry ," Edwards said.

Many of those who compete against Torrence feel she never has properly apologized for her unfounded accusations of drug use made after she finished fourth in the 100-meter final at the 1992 Olympics.

In a confusing interview at the Olympics, Torrence first said two of the three women (Gail Devers of the U.S., Cuthbert and Irina Privalova of Russia) who finished ahead of her there were using performance-enhancing drugs.

She later excluded Devers and, after learning Cuthbert was the silver medalist, amended her charge to say three of the eight finalists (Ottey was fifth) were not clean. Torrence finally apologized, sort of, saying she should have said, ` "I have a suspicion' instead of `three people.' "

None of the eight Olympic finalists tested positive.

Said Cuthbert: "I really haven't gotten over it. I think she's crazy. She's not very intelligent. She needs to think before she talks sometimes."

"I'm not going to comment about Juliet not liking me," Torrence said. "A loser doesn't ever like a winner."

The animosity toward Torrence lingers because, perhaps to her credit, she sticks to her convictions. In two interviews with European media in the past month, Torrence said, "I stand by everything I said in Barcelona."

When Torrence was asked about it again Monday her agent, Brad Hunt, tried to change the subject. Torrence did not shy away from it.

Asked if drugs had become more or less of a problem in the sport, Torrence said, "It's the same." She did concede, "I just have to be more controlled about myself and my feelings. I'm not God. God will have to take care of all evil."

Torrence, 30, has been fixated on the possibility of her rivals using drugs since she finished second to Germany's Katrin Krabbe in both the 100 and 200 meters at the 1991 World Championships. A year later, Krabbe tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has been banned from the sport since.

"Regardless of how I feel, I just keep plugging," Torrence said.

Torrence, third behind Devers and Ottey in the 100 at the 1993 world championships, made even Ottey (:10.95) and Privalova (third in :10.96) look like relative pluggers in Monday's race. Carlette Guidry of the U.S. was fourth in :11.07.

Devers did not defend her title, choosing to run--and win--the high hurdles Sunday.

"The 100 is every sprinter's favorite race," said Torrence, 1992 Olympic champion in the 200. "It's the glory event. Everyone knows the fastest person in the world."

It is a title Ottey, 35, has vainly sought for 15 years. Over that time, she has earned four world medals and one Olympic medal in the 100, none of them gold. She lost the 100 at this meet two years ago in a controversial photo finish.

"Everyone's heart always has to be with Ottey; I accept that, and I understand it," Torrence said. "It doesn't bother me when they clap louder for her."

The problem comes if the applause for Torrence turns into the sound of one hand clapping.